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συνεργός

synergós

G4904 substantive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

One who works together with another; a collaborator, partner, or associate engaged jointly with others in an activity or task. Principally denotes a co-worker in a shared enterprise, with additional contextual nuances ranging from a close associate engaged in the same labor, to a helper or assistant participating actively in a common cause. Used often for partnership in a specific work, whether secular or religious.

Semantic Range

co-worker, collaborator, partner, companion in labor, associate, helper participating in joint work, active partner

Root / Etymology

Formed from σύν ('with, together') and the stem of ἔργον ('work, deed'), thus literally 'one who works with.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical and Hellenistic Greek, συνεργός is rare but transparent, bearing the straightforward sense of 'one who collaborates or works with.' In the context of the New Testament and early Christian literature, it frequently refers to joint workers in the mission or activities of early assemblies, denoting not subordinates but active colleagues or partners. English translations often render it as 'fellow worker,' 'co-worker,' or 'helper,' but these may not fully capture the sense of partnership implied by the term. The term does not inherently imply spiritual, religious, or ecclesiastical activity, though this is its primary NT usage. συνεργός is distinct from διάκονος ('servant, minister'), which can imply a more subordinate or service-oriented role, and from ὑπηρέτης ('attendant, assistant'), which can carry the sense of one serving under direction. The semantic focus of συνεργός is shared action and mutual contribution. Attested from at least the Hellenistic period, the word exhibits continuity of meaning into Late Greek.

Translation Consistency

primary "coworker" 2 occurrences

The Greek συνεργός primarily denotes someone who works together with another. 'Coworker' is the most natural, common English equivalent (modern and neutral across secular and religious contexts), matches the majority of existing renderings ('co-worker(s)'), and cleanly covers the semantic range of collaborator/partner/helper while allowing regular singular/plural inflection.

Alternatives (10 occurrences):
"co-workers" (7x) "co-worker" (3x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a presumed compound of σύν and the base of ἔργον; a co-laborer, i.e. coadjutor:--companion in labour, (fellow-)helper(-labourer, -worker), labourer together with, workfellow.

Root Family

συνεργός (synergós) — co-worker, collaborator, partner in work, active associate

Root συν-εργ- to work with, collaborate, cooperate

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4904-02 συνεργοί sunergoi ADJ.P NOM M PL fellow workers co-workers co-workers 5
G4904-03 συνεργὸν sunergon ADJ.R ACC M SG fellow worker co-worker coworker 3
G4904-04 συνεργός sunergos ADJ.R NOM M SG fellow worker co-worker co-worker 2
G4904-05 συνεργούς sunergous ADJ.S ACC M PL fellow workers co-workers co-workers 1
G4904-01 συνεργῷ sunergo ADJ.S DAT M SG fellow worker to a co-worker co-worker 1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4904-05 Romans 16:3 συνεργούς sunergous ADJ.S ACC M PL fellow workers co-workers co-workers
G4904-03 Romans 16:9 συνεργὸν sunergon ADJ.R ACC M SG fellow worker co-worker coworker
G4904-04 Romans 16:21 συνεργός sunergos ADJ.R NOM M SG fellow worker co-worker co-worker
G4904-02 1 Corinthians 3:9 συνεργοί sunergoi ADJ.P NOM M PL fellow workers co-workers co-workers
G4904-02 2 Corinthians 1:24 συνεργοί sunergoi ADJ.P NOM M PL workers co-workers co-workers
G4904-04 2 Corinthians 8:23 συνεργός sunergos ADJ.S NOM M SG fellow worker co-worker co-worker
G4904-03 Philippians 2:25 συνεργὸν sunergon ADJ.S ACC M SG fellow worker co-worker coworker
G4904-03 Philippians 4:3 συνεργῶν sunergon ADJ.S GEN M PL fellow workers co-worker co-workers
G4904-02 Colossians 4:11 συνεργοὶ sunergoi ADJ.S NOM M PL fellow workers co-workers co-workers
G4904-01 Philemon 1:1 συνεργῷ sunergo ADJ.S DAT M SG fellow worker to a co-worker co-worker
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